Neither the Queen not the Governor-General has any real authority in conducting the administration of the country. Real legislative and executive responsibility rests with the elected representatives of the people. 

Under the Constitution, he is given authority to act in many matters, e.g. in appointing and disciplining officers of the civil service, in proroguing Parliament and so on, but only in few cases is he empowered to act entirely on his own discretion. The Governor-General also exercises the prerogative of mercy on behalf of the Queen. 

In exercising the prerogative of mercy (including the power to grant pardon to any person who has been sentenced to death), the Governor-General acts on the advice of the Jamaican Privy Council. 

The functions of the Privy Council are usually limited to advising the Governor-General on the exercise of the royal prerogative of mercy and the discipline of the civil service, local government officers, and the police, in cases where appeals are made. 

The Cabinet must consist of the Prime Minister and not less than 11 other ministers (no upper limit is specified). Not more than four ministers must be appointed from the Senate, and they may have portfolio responsibilities. The other cabinet ministers are appointed from the House of Representatives. 

Cabinet ministers may be assisted by ministers of state and parliamentary secretaries. 

Each minister conducts the ordinary business of his ministry without referring to any other minister. However, important matters, especially those which may become the subject of discussion in Parliament, are brought before the Cabinet for discussion and decision. 

The Prime Minister has the overall responsibility and, except where specifically limited by the Constitution, he has power to make decisions without consultation with any sector of Parliament, including the Monarch. 

Each minister is allocated a central office and each ministry is assigned specific departments, statutory boards and agencies. Ministries may name committees to advise them on specialized aspects of their responsibilities. 

In ministries with widespread functions, persons with knowledge and experience in particular subjects may be appointed to assist. There are two such categories of ministerial assistant: Minister of State and Parliamentary Secretary. 

Each ministry is administered by a senior civil servant, called a Permanent Secretary. Some of his authority is delegated to heads of departments, assistant Under-Secretaries, principal assistant secretaries and chief accountants. The Permanent Secretary is the accountable officer for the ministry. 
 

A statutory body is a board set up by statute for a particular purpose. This board operates solely within the laws that created it. 

Because of its involvement in the public sector, a statutory body must be controlled by Government, which is free to cancel its statutory status at any time. Although this body is basically autonomous, in some instances the Government does provided funds, in which case a report must be given on how the money is spent. 

The personnel of a statutory body are not civil servants. A statutory body is free to sue, and can be sued, in its own name.